I’m thrilled to hear that I’ll be working with your family this school year. This is my fourteenth year teaching at Stratton. I have taught first, kindergarten, fourth and second grade. Before that, I ran the library at Dallin for two years. I have enjoyed many learning experiences across the elementary grades.
On a more personal note, I live in Arlington with my husband Bobby. I have two adult daughters. I feel the experiences I have had with my own children have enhanced my vision for what students can do and be supported to do in order to be successful in their learning. We all enjoy seeing Stratton families around town and in our neighborhood!
During the first weeks of school we will spend many moments getting to know each other and creating a classroom community that fosters a safe and academically stimulating environment that reaches every child. I have been trained in the Responsive Classroom approach to teaching. One of the main goals of this approach is to spend time at the beginning of the year building strong routines and a safe community for all learners. We are fortunate to have a diverse population and it is important to be inclusive and understanding of differences.
I am excited to learn about what your family and individual student learning goals are. I have included guiding questions below to help get this started. You may email your thoughts back to me, drop them off at the front office or send them with your child the first day of school. I am also happy to meet with you and or your child the week before school starts or by phone or Zoom. I have also included, below, a couple of activities for your child to do to help share about themselves during the first week of school.
Communication is a very important part of our developing relationship. I have a group email list for communication from PowerSchool. However if you would like a second email address added please let me know. You can email me at [email protected] from any addresses you would like included. Please include your child’s name and state: “Add me to the group list.” I usually communicate online, so let me know if you would rather paper correspondence.
At this point, you should have heard or know about the school supply program organized by the PTO. Therefore, I am not sending a supply list. However, children may bring their own labeled home/school folder; otherwise, I will provide one. The only other important item is headphones. If possible, it would be great if students had their own labeled headphones on the first day of school.
Please email me any time after you receive this letter with any questions or concerns. I am looking forward to a spectacular year!
Ann Marie Abbott
Please share as much or little as you want...
1. How does your child feel about starting second grade?
2. What are some of your child’s likes and dislikes regarding his/her school experience so far?
3. What are some of your child’s strengths?
4. Is there anything that you think will be challenging for your child this year?
5. What topics does your child like to explore?
6. Please describe your child’s family/living situation ( i.e. siblings, stepfamily members, custodial parent, etc.).
7. Is there any other information or concerns that you would like to share about your child?
Community Building
During the first weeks of school students will personalize the cover of their Journal. I am asking that you help by sending in photos of your child, friends and family as well as any stickers or paper cut outs that connect to your child’s interests. These images will help generate conversations and writing topics related to memories and interests. The children get very excited to share these while getting to know each other better and this helps develop the classroom community.
These images will be glued onto the cover so it is important to know they cannot be returned in their original form. Images printed on regular copy paper and no bigger than 3x5ish work best. We will at least fill the cover, but the back and inside cover will also provide space for more!
Please send the images in a labeled bag on the first day of school. You may also email them to me and I will print them.
Option 1: Choices: Your child could write about something they did over the summer, draw a picture/pictures of things that interest them or things they did over the summer, or make a list of questions for me. Or maybe your child has an idea about how to share about themself.
Option 2: I have included a printable Survey your child may fill in and draw a picture on the back.
Any or all of the above are welcome! It would be great to get them on the first day of school. Email works too!